Pressure device for delivering liquids



March 27, 1934. G. DEAN PRESSURE DEVICE FOR DELIVERING LIQUIDS FiledNOV. 20, 1930 [71 7/677 zfor:

Geafye Dean, 53%

fliiys.

Patented Mar. 27, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PRESSURE DEVICE FORDELIVERING LIQUIDS George Dean, Hall Green, England 4 Claims.

This invention relates to devices for delivering liquids, of the kind inwhich there is a delivery pump connected with a main storage tank,liquid being delivered through the pump outlets.

5 It has advantages which apply to the servicing of liquids which are ormay become viscous, and particularly to the servicing of oils (i. e.,the pumping and delivery of specified quantities, gallons, half-gallons, etc., of oils).

Its main object is to facilitate the rapid delivery of predeterminedquantities of liquid even in cases where the main storage supply is atsome distance from the delivery pump or other servicing means, the twobeing interconnected by a relatively long-distance pipe-line.

A further object of the invention is to arrange a subsidiary containernear the pump (which is spaced away from the main storage tank) tocommunicate with the main storage tank and also, at its lower end, withthe pump inlet. The subsidiary container may be below the bottom of themain tank so as to be fed gravitatively therefrom, or asuper-atmospheric or positive pressure may be applied to the contents ofthe main tank for delivering fuel therefrom to the container. Then, whenthe pump is operated to draw liquid from the container the pressureabove the liquid in the container falls, and liquid flow from the maintank is thus introduced.

Preferably a control vent is arranged at the top of the container, andin some cases a connection may be provided between the pump and thecontainer for positively subjecting the air space at the top of thelatter to subatmospheric or negative pressure.

For an understanding of the attainment of this object and theaccomplishment of other advantages, attention should be directed to thefollowing description, in which reference is made to the accompanyingdrawing, the main features of the invention being pointed out in theappended claims.

In the accompanying drawing,

Figure 1 is a part-sectional elevation of a liquiddelivering layoutadapted according to the invention, and

Figure 2 is a part-sectional elevation showing a modification of adetail.

In the arrangement illustrated in Figure 1 there is a complete means ofservicing oils or other liquids from a relatively-distant main storagetank 1 along the pipe lines 2, 11 and 3'7.

In Figure 1 the pipe line 2 is shown connected with the bottom of thetank, in whichcase a float 55 chamber 3 may be provided to afford ameans of ranged above the top of the tank, would not be automaticallysealing the inlet to the pipe line 11 when the contents of the tank areexhausted. By this means air is prevented from entering the pipe-linefrom the tank and the system remains primed up to the float chamber 3while the tank is being replenished or another receptacle substituted.Consequently, there is no necessity for repriming the whole system when,after the contents of a tank have been exhausted, operations arere-commenced.

Thefloat 4 in the chamber 3 opens or closes a valve 5 by means of thelever system 6 as predetermined by the contents of the tank. Thus, whenthe tank is empty the valve 5 to the pipe-line is closed. If oil orother liquid is now supplied to the tank 1 and the pet-cock 7 opened,the liquid fills the chamber 3, raising the float 4 and opening thevalve 5. The pet-cock '7 can then be closed, when the unit will be readyfor further service. i I

Obviously these sealing arrangements can be varied. If the pipe line 11should enter the top of the tank 1, as alternatively indicated at 8 inFigure 2, the float chamber 9, which is then arsubject to thegravitational effects of the liquid contents. Means are thereforeprovided for obtaining a negative pressure in the float chamber 9 afterthe tank has been reflled to cause the liquid to enter the float chamberand raise the float 10, thus openingthe valve 5 to the pipe-line 11.This negative pressure can be applied to the float chamber 9 through atube 12 and a turncock 13. By rotating this turn-cock anti-clockwise,from the position shown, through communication is opened from the tube12 to the float chamber 9. The valve 14. on the top of the float 10seals the port to the turn-cock 13 when the liquid has attained theproper level in the float-chamber 9 and prevents flooding of the ventsystem.

By replacing the turn-cock 13 to the position shown communication isestablished between the tube 12 and the tube 15 which is connected withthe top of the tank 1. Positive pressure may then be admitted throughthe tube 12, thus putting the contents of the tank 1 and the pipe-line11 under pressure, to facilitate service.

If ordinary atmospheric service is required (assuming that it issufficient) positive pressure would not be applied through the tube 12but the pet-cock 16 would be opened instead, placing the system underatmospheric pressure. Thus, the system may be placed under negativepressure, atmospheric pressure or positive pressure.

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A preferred means for creating the positive or negative pressure ishereinafter described.

Situated adjacent to the point of service and as a continuation of thepipe-line 11 is a subcontainer 17. This sub-container acts as a relayreservoir and is adapted to hold a suiiicient amount of the liquid asmay be required for immediate service. When the sub-container 17 isfully charged the liquid level therein may be approximately as indicatedby the broken line 18. This level is predetermined by the action of afloat 19 on the valve 20 which opens or closes to the atmosphere throughgauzes 21. The valve 20 is hollow from the head downwards, and holes 22can connect with the atmosphere above and with the air space in thesub-container below, respectively. Thus, when liquid is serviced fromthe sub-container 1'7, the level of the float 19 falls, closing thevalve 20, and causes a negative pressure to build up in the air space atthe top of the sub-container, which induces fresh liquid to flow inthrough the pipe-line 11. If the contents of the tank 1 are underpositive pressure, or if the contents of the sub-container 17 are undergravitative pressure from the contents of the tank 1, the liquid willrise until the float 19 closes the valve face 23 which seals the airspace in the sub-container, retaining therein the requisite weight ofair to provide sufiicient elasticity for the quick service ofsubstantially the whole of the contents of the sub-container 1'7 andinduce a maximum fiow through the long pipeline 11. It will be obviousthat after a slight delay or waiting period following a serviceoperation the sub-container 17 will again be fully recharged for quickservice.

If the sub-container 17 should become sad for any reason, as when itscontents are not under positive pressure and surplus air has filteredinto the interior, the float 19 at its lowered level opens the hollowvalve 24 to a vent-tube 25 through which a negative pressure can besupplied to the sub-container, by way of the holes 26 and 27 in thehollow valve 24. The lower face 28 merely acts as a stop for the valve24 and does not make a valve seating, the hole 27 being continually opento the air space at the top of the sub-container. The suspended weight29 in combination with the fioat 19 gives a very powerful sealing actionto the vent valve faces 20, 23 and 24.

If a number of these sub-containers are used, as with the multi-servicesupply hereinafter referred to, a ball-valve 30 interposed between thevent-tube 25 and the valve 24 prevents any intercommunication betweenseparate sub-containers. It will be seen that when a negative pressureis applied through a common vent-tube, such as 31, connecting with allthe separate vent-tubes 25, only those sub-containers which are sad willre-act to the said negative pressure.

If any sub-container should not be required to be in use, or if itshould be desired to cut out any sub-container, there is a turn-cock 32arranged as shown, the half rotation of which cuts out the containerwith which it is associated.

" f The pointed end 33 of the pin forming the handle of the turn-cock 32indicates by its direction whether the container is cut out or inservice.

Any automatic regulator may be used instead I of the one described bythe numerals 19 to 33 inclusive, for automatically determining thevolume of air (at atmospheric pressure) sealed within the sub-container.

The aforementioned positive or negative pressures delivered along thevent-tube 12, and the negative pressure delivered along the vent-tube31, may, if desired, be created by the action of the piston 34 in anoils-servicing cylinder 35. For this purpose the stop-cock 36 of the oilsuction tube 37 is first closed; the turn-cock 38 is then put into theposition shown, and an upward stroke of the piston 34 is made. Anyspiritladen air available from any of the sub-containers 17 is thusdrawn into the cylinder and on the return stroke expelled past theball-valve 39. This spirit-laden air is available for positive pressurepurposes in the primary tank 1, if the turn-cock 13 and the pet-cock 16are in the positions shown, or it may be expelled into the atmospherethrough the pet-cock 16 if the same is open, or through the non-drip oildelivery valve 41 if the spring loaded lever 40 is depressed.

It is obvious that, if positive pressure is required in the primary tank1, and no spirit-laden air is available from the sub-containers 17, theair necessary to fill the cylinder on the upstroke of the piston 34 maybe obtained by depressing the lever 40, thus opening the delivery valve41, this valve then being closed by the raising of the lever on thereturn stroke of the piston, when the air contained in the cylinder isexpelled past the ball 39 into the primary tank 1.

By rotating the turn-cock 38 anti-clockwise through 90 communication isestablished be tween the cylinder and the vent-tube 12 to allow ofcreating a negative pressure in the float chamber 9. Rotating theturn-cock 38 anti-clockwise through a further 90 cuts off the cylinderfrom the whole of the Vent system, when the main stop-cock 36 on the oilsuction tube 37 can be opened for ordinary service.

The subsidiary container, instead of being of rectangular form asillustrated, may be of bottle form, the pipe-line 11 from the mainstorage tank leading to the lower end of the container, and thepipe-line 37 connected with the delivery pump entering the containerthrough its upper end and extending down to a point just above thebottom of the container.

Alternatively, the pipe-line 11, 37 leading from the main storage tankto the pump can be enlarged in section to provide the subsidiarycontainer, the line 37 to the pump communicating with the lower side ofthe enlarged section.

It should be understood that the negative and positive pressures may, ifpreferred, be obtained from pressure lines operated by an air pump orcompressor. Also, that by putting positive pressure on the contents ofthe primary tank 1 the whole of the oils-servicing system up to thestopcock 36 is placed under pressure.

The advantage of having a suction servicing means aided by this positivepressure oils-service will, it is believed, be forciblyv realized.Furthermore, service can be continued from the subcontainer during theperiod of re-filling the main storage tank.

In practice the apparatus of the invention may form part of amulti-service supply, as above referred to, the subsidiary chambers forthe different grades of lubricant etc. being disposed together to form,or be adjacent to, the base of a single pump provided with means bywhich it can be selectively associated with any of the pipe systems asdesired. When preferred the subsidiary chambers may be grouped in themanner indicated in British patent specification No. 321497, in respectof which I am the patentee.

It will thus be seen that by this invention small quantities of viscousor other liquids can be quickly delivered by any suitable servicingmeans even in cases when the main supply is located at some distancetherefrom.

Although a pump has been particularly described as the servicing means,it will be evident that delivery may be efiected through sight glasses,the liquid being subjected to positive or negative pressure by turn-cockonly.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent ofthe United States is:-

1. An oil-servicing or like liquid-delivery system including a mainstorage tank, a delivery pump spaced therefrom, a subsidiary containernear the pump and below the tank, the container being continuouslyconnected with the tank as long as the latter is charged and at itslower end with the pump inlet, and means for causing liquid to flow fromthe tank to the container till it reaches a predetermined level therein,the arrangement being such that during a servicing operation thepressure in the container above the liquid decreases, whereby liquidflow from the main tank is induced.

2. An oil-servicing or like liquid delivery system, including a mainstorage tank, a delivery pump spaced therefrom, a subsidiary containernear the pump and away from the tank, the container being continuouslyconnected to the tank as long as the latter is charged and from itslower end to the pump inlet, and valve means associated with thedelivery pump and with the container whereby a negative pressure can bepositively applied above the liquid in the latter to induce liquid flowfrom the main tank.

3. A liquid vending device, including a main storage tank, a deliverypump located advantageously for delivery of the liquid, a subsidiarycontainer disposed adjacent the pump and below the level of the storagetank, a float controlled supply pipe between the bottoms of the storagetank and the subsidiary container for closing the supply pipe when thesupply of liquid fails therein, and a second supply pipe between thebottoms of the subsidiary tank and. the pump.

4. A liquid vending device comprising a storage tank, a delivery pump, asubsidiary container disposed below the level of the tank, the containerbeing continuously connected with the tank as long as the latter ischarged and at its lower end with the pump inlet, and pressure reducingmeans operable during a servicing operation for decreasing the pressurein the container above the liquid, whereby liquid flow from the tank isinduced.

GEORGE DEAN.

